'Paid Campaign Against Me', Claims Nitin Gadkari On Backlash Over E20 Petrol Rollout

New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who has been facing severe backlash on social media over ethanol blending and mandatory sale of E20 petrol, said he was being made a target.

Speaking at the 65th annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in the national Capital on Thursday, Gadkari said he was a victim of a “paid political campaign” on social media, where there has been a vehement pushback against the Central government’s ethanol-blended fuel rollout.

According to vehicle owners, E20 reduces mileage and harms older vehicles which are not built for higher ethanol blends. There have been complaints from owners of pre-2023 models, as reported by some service garages.

Gadkari claimed that concerns about E20 petrol, which blends 20 per cent ethanol with conventional fuel, are being exaggerated online, and went on to assert that it is safe and backed by both regulators and automakers.

“ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) and the Supreme Court have given clarity on the E20 programme. There was a campaign on social media to target me politically. It was a paid campaign, so don’t pay attention to it,” Gadkari said.

Last month, Gadkari challenged detractors to “show a single instance” of a car being damaged by E20, saying neither ARAI nor SIAM had flagged any verified case of harm.

The matter went to the Supreme Court, which earlier this month dismissed a petition seeking a halt on rollout of E20 and mandate ethanol-free petrol at pumps.

The government maintains that ethanol blending will reduce oil imports, lower emissions and boost farmer incomes.

Gadkari stressed on new income opportunities for farmers.

“We took the decision to produce ethanol from maize. As a result, maize cultivation in UP, Bihar, and across the country has tripled, ‘India’s agricultural growth rate has traditionally been low. This diversification of agriculture into the energy and power sector directly benefits farmers and strengthens the economy, there is nothing wrong with it,” Gadkari said.

Gadkari pitched for incentives to encourage cleaner vehicle adoption.

“I have requested the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to give GST benefit to consumers who buy new vehicles post scrapping their old vehicles at a verified scrapping centre,” he said.